Bilbao Hotels

This Bilbao hotel is stylish and modern, with a great location opposite the Guggenheim Museum. It boasts 5-star luxury and is famed for its superb interior design, which is wouldn't look out of place in the gallery across the way. Its clean and comfy rooms have been designed by Javier Mariscal and come with Egyptian cotton bed linen, designer armchairs, free Wi-Fi, large LCD TVs and bathtubs you could lose a weekend in.

A favourite of Ernest Hemingway, Ava Gardner and many a bullfighter, Hotel Carlton is a Bilbao institution. It is set in a grand neoclassical building with a restaurant and a 1930s-style bar. Drenched in history (it was the Euskadi government's headquarters during the Civil War), it's a splendid and very elegant hotel. Discount prices are available online if you book well in advance.

A favourite with celebrities, up to and including the Dalai Lama, this is one of the best top-class hotels in Bilbao. You’ll find free Wi-Fi, a complimentary gym-spa, a champagne bar and an opulent selection of rooms and suites. The location, too, is handy for the city centre and the Guggenheim Museum. The staff are incredibly helpful, the breakfast is excellent and the soft drinks and chocolates in the mini-bar are included in the price.

One of Bilbao's 3-star hotels located in the shopping and business district, the Hotel Ilunion provides comfortable, well-equipped rooms and an outstanding buffet breakfast with everything you could possibly want. There's also a cafe and a restaurant serving local cuisine, and it's in a good location for the new town and within walking distance of the old town.

Bilbao's Hotel Petit Palace Arana has a great location opposite the Arriaga Theatre, between the Old Town and the Ensanche, the modern city centre. It is housed in a converted 19th-century warehouse with a balcony of wood and crystal which contrasts with the ultramodern interior design and high-tech amenities. The double rooms have everything you'll need for a relaxing stay from super king-sized beds to hydro massage showers.

Devised by famous fashion couturier, Antonio Miró, this modern boutique hotel combines functional design and personalised service to great effect. It's a tasteful establishment with great views of Bilbao, and it offers guests access to its spas and gym on a complimentary basis. There are 50 minimalistic rooms to pick from and many come with views of the Guggenheim. All, though, have large TVs, colossal beds and chic marble bathrooms.

This pleasant, comfortable and reasonably priced 2-star hotel is located in the heart of the historical centre of Bilbao, next to the cathedral and the Arriaga Theatre. It offers good service, spectacularly clean rooms and a very relaxed ambience, so the dated quilts and covers can be easily overlooked. What's more, most rooms come with a bath and shower and have decent sized TVs. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout.

Iturrienea Ostatua is a pension in Bilbao's Old Town that's chock-a-block with colour and character. It has restored antique furniture throughout and great attention to detail has been paid to the decoration of the 21 bedrooms. The lovely exposed stone walls and oak beams give this place its charm and all in all, it represents very good value. In decent weather, breakfast can be served in the garden.

This budget offering is clean and comfortable and offers a good buffet breakfast. Situated in a fairly central location, in downtown Bilbao, there are a slew of funky rooms to choose from, all of which have been decorated to represent a different building in the city. Most points of interest are within walking distance and the hotel itself runs a photography tour of Bilbao. Other extras include bicycle rental, ironing and laundry services, TVs in rooms, free Wi-Fi and a 24-hour bar. It also has a secure garage for those travelling with vehicles.